inspiration Archives - Page 4 of 4

It’s the fourth quarter of the Outback Bowl and, at a game-defining moment, thousands of Minnesota fans are chanting, “row the boat” while pulling imaginary oars. I reach for my phone as my baffled husband asks, what does ‘row the boat’ mean in football?

We did not expect the answer we found.

Minnesota Coach P.J. Fleck lost his infant son to a heart condition in 2011. In interviews, Fleck shares how holding his second son while he died changed everything—what he believed in, what he’d done to that point, and how he chooses to live going forward. Row the boat represents his son’s life continuing through his own; it became a mantra meaning never give up.

For Fleck, this metaphor has three parts—the oar, the boat, and the compass.

The oar is the energy we bring to life in every endeavor.

The boat represents sacrifice. Coach Fleck asks, “What are you willing to give up for something you haven’t had?”

The compass is the direction in which we’re travelling and our all-important travelling companions.

What a cool way to look at a new year and new decade: energy, sacrifice, direction.

Energy. It’s interesting to note how many of us began to shift towards plant-based food sources recently. Food as fuel, one friend said. To balance mental and emotional energies, many people have gone on media fasts or become careful about the images they ingest, especially before bedtime. Still others are recommitting to spiritual exercises as a source of sustainable energy—the kind that supports long-term health, clarity and happiness.

What kind of energy sustains us?

Sacrifice. A millennial friend once shared that when he makes a request of Life, he first considers what he’s willing to give in order to receive the gift. I’ve thought in terms of the work I’m willing to invest to earn my way, but this notion of sacrifice stretches and inspires me further.

What are we willing to give up for something we haven’t had before?

Direction. Envisioning the highest goals engages our creativity and heart. Then, we can listen to Life as it coaches us beyond our imaginings. Trusting this life force opens an opportunity to actually reach the goals we’ve set.

How coachable are we? And have we invited loving traveling companions to accompany us?

Pivotal to my own success has been connecting with my inner coach, the wise voice within, the inspiration for all things great and small, the voice of unconditional acceptance and perpetual learning.

Coach Fleck helped set the direction for his team, then credited the players themselves as the number one reason for the season’s success. The Minnesota Gophers haven’t had an 11-win run since 1904.

Monitoring our energy sources, contemplating true sacrifice, and setting our own direction through inner guidance can give us the best opportunity to “row the boat” all the way to our end zone.

Our winning season is within reach in 2020, too.

Photo by Joakim Honkasalo on Unsplash

Twice in the last week, I’ve encountered the term existential dread.

One young woman described this state as “fretting over my non-existent influence on the world.” As she struggled to make ends meet and balance her passion for activism, she found herself exhausted.

When we feel overwhelmed, it’s easy to question our self-worth or impact. We may find ourselves in the victim’s chair, wondering how we got there—again. Or we fall under the wave rather than surfing its crest.

What’s important to remember is that our perception can shift in a heartbeat. It can flip, just like a coin tossed into the air.

Two weeks ago, my husband and I were walking the loop around a nearby pond. I’d been feeling pressured by the immense project of rebranding and launching a new website.

The challenge of finding simple words to express the Life is Coaching You principle loomed large. How could I explain something so experiential, so alive, so unique to each individual?

To do so, I would have to be open to Life coaching me. I checked in. Was I listening? Did I trust that the way would appear? Would I follow through patiently on a task that felt like climbing an endless mountain with a full backpack?

In that moment, a white, curly-haired puppy on a leash rounds the curve up ahead. He’s excitedly sniffing the air and joyously jumping through fallen leaves.

His owner walks slowly, watchful and smiling, letting the little guy fully experience the park’s sights and smells. By the time they reach us, I can’t wait to meet this pup.

As I always do, I ask the owner if that would be OK.

“Absolutely,” comes the reply. “He never understands when people don’t want to say hello. Makes no sense to him.”

Four-month-old Biscuit leaps up to greet us, though his height at full stretch barely reaches our knees. He licks our hands, and jumps back and forth between us. We can’t help but laugh and play with Biscuit.

There it is again, I realize. The flip.

Can you picture a dog fretting over his influence on the world? Or worrying about how a website’s message could reach its audience?

Not a chance. Life is too fun, too full, too rich, too utterly enthralling! A dead leaf on the ground is a cause for celebration.

After a time, my husband and I move on, and Biscuit continues his exploration.

Now comes the critical moment.

Do I return to existential dread? Or do I take the opportunity to release the old for the new, to step across the threshold into a state from which everything can be viewed with wonder?

Dozens of these choices—these open doorways—present themselves daily. They may not all be as obvious as Biscuit, but they come.

Puppies don’t care if they matter. Because they just do. And so do we.

In 2020, “Row the Boat”

Do We Matter?